Lynnwood, WA – The Everett Community College men's and women's cross country teams took to the course in a race setting for the first time in over 15 months. COVID-19 delayed the should be fall season sport until a February 13th first date of competition. In true 2020 (now 2021) fashion the first meet of the year scheduled for February 13th at McCollum Park was postponed due to heavy snowfall and icy conditions.
The athletes would have to prolong their wait to the following weekend for an Edmonds College hosted meet in Lynnwood on the campus of EC. The men's race would feature a dual between Edmonds and Everett, while the women's race would include Pierce College which sponsors a women's team only.
The men would lead things off with an 11am start time in an out and back style 5k course. All three runners for the Trojans would be first year freshman appearing in their first collegiate race. Ryan Barene out of Arlington led the Trojans with a 3rd place finish and a time of 17:01. Teammate Jake Waterhouse out of Wasilla, AK was close behind at 17:08 and taking 4th place. Beverly, WA native Tyler Buck finished 6th overall with a time of 19:12. The Trojans did not have 5 available competitors for this race but hope to add another freshman in Sawyer Swart out of Duvall, WA and the only returning sophomore Jeffery Richner out of Marysville, WA in the next meet on March 6th.
On the women's side, two runners represented the Trojans, freshman Caelyn Foster of Cheney, WA and sophomore Avery Daniels out of Phoenix, AZ who last competed collegiately in the fall of 2016. The course for the women was the same out and back 5k and was ultimately won be Christina Savenkova of Edmonds who posted a time of 19:25. Avery Daniels would come in just 8 seconds behind, but posted a 5k PR of 19:33. For comparison that was one whole minute faster than her 20:33 time in the 2016 NWAC championship meet where she finished 6th overall. Caelyn Foster in her first collegiate race finished 7th overall with a time of 23:58.
The next cross country meet will be on March 6th and will be hosted by Green River College in Auburn, WA. Competing teams will be Everett, Green River, and Pierce College.
